HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wanted to post quick to wish everyone a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all get some quality family time in along with some knitting...I certainly hope so! I will post more next week as I have made some progress on my Christmas sock presents. Have a great weekend, and don't eat too much!

Zip, Zero, Zilch

This is basically where my knitting has gone in the last week and a half....nowhere!! I have made very little progress on things. The most progress I have made was on my Tree Jacket. I finally figured out some problems that I was having on sizing and have moved on to the body of the sweater. I am pretty happy with that!

I just read on the Harlot's blog that there are only 42 days left for Xmas knitting!!! Not including today or Xmas Day....HOLY CRAP!!! I have so much to do yet, and nothing is getting done! So, all other non-Xmas related item have been placed in timeout, reluctantly. I have one and one half socks to finish for my mom, a heel turn and leg on 2 socks for my dad, the majority of a scarf for the new future in-law, my sister's fiance, and all the embroidery and lining of the bag for my sister. Now, I know that there are knitters out there thinking this could all be done in less than 2 weeks, but I am a distractable knitter. Right now being the perfect example...what am I doing on the computer, Ravelry, blog-stalking, blogging, checking my email for the 52nd time today?? I drive myself crazy sometimes!!

Well, hopefully I will have some FOs in the next week or two, so I will post when I have something postworthy to tell you all! Otherwise, if you happen to see me on Ravelry, send me a message to kick me in the butt and get knitting!!

Only a week and a half late!!

Wow...what a week and a half! Things have been super crazy. My last post was on my last day of work, the following week was a whirlwind of packing and moving. I am now, finally, back in Iowa...back with my parents...and back to the small town life. I love being here! I have a lot on my plate for the coming weeks as well, but I promise to make a much better effort at keeping up my blog! So, my most exciting thing since my last post, aside from the move, was seeing Laurie Perry aka Crazy Aunt Purl in Peoria!
She was great! Not only do I enjoy her humor, and her general take on life, I have come to love her inspiration and the way that she shares that inspiration with others. She read some pretty funny and moving exerpts from the book, and spoke very well in front of the crowd. All in all she was wonderful to listen to, and not a bit different from her blog.

Here she is reading to us!

She was such a sweetheart. Thankfully, I got in the signing line pretty early on, so I didn't have to wait too long for her to sign my book. She was just really nice, and apologetic for being sweaty! (I didn't even notice!!) I was really excited to be there, but when I was in line, all of the sudden, I got super nervous...when I finally got to the front of the line, my hands were shaking so bad that I thought I would drop my book, the camera, and everything else in my hands! I am normally a pretty nervous person when it comes to exciting things, but I was not expecting this!! I got a nice lady in the line behind me to take a picture of me with Laurie...

The one thing that struck me about her, was when I asked for a picture, she was obviously happy to do so, but she was also very...what's the word I'm looking for here.....physical?? What I mean is that I squatted down next to her, expecting to merely lean in and take the picture, but instead, she put her arm around me, and it felt like taking a picture with an old friend, or my sister. Very surprising, in a nice way! Then she apologized for being sweaty!! Again, didn't notice...was too excited!! The best part of the whole experience was when she complimented my handbag...it was my Sari Silk Handbag...that I made...that I designed...that is posted on this blog!!!! She liked it, and complimented it...twice! Now, if you read her blog, you will remember that her last post was about how she is overcoming the urge to people please....so the fact that I am SO EXCITED that she liked something that was mine, that I made....well, it just validates me as a knitter, a little, or maybe a lot! Silly, I know...but I just had the urge to say to someone, anyone, at that time...."She likes me, she really likes me!" However I didn't, lest anyone think I am crazy! But I did bask in my little moment with Crazy Aunt Purl....and took a picture of the signed book, cause in reality....I'm a big dork!!! Enjoy!

Melancholy

This is the way I feel today. Today was my last day at work. I have been so full of emotions the last 30 days of my employment. On one hand, I hate the fact that I was let go from my position, that I have had to say good-bye to many really great patients, and that I have had to say good-bye to the people that I work with. Life changes can kind of really suck! On the other hand, however, I am happy, and excited with the direction my life is going. This turn of events has led me to make some pretty big decisions, including starting my own business. This is really scary, really exciting, and I sometimes can't believe that I am actually doing it! I am one week away from my big move back home, and though I have been apprehensive about living with my parents again, I am getting really excited about it as well. My family has had quite a big year, with another big year ahead...its a great time to be closer to them! I got this email from a friend last night that basically summed up a lot of the feelings that I have had the last year. I have lost a long term relationship, lost a loved one, and lost a job. There are so many things I have to be unhappy about. This email, summed up, stated that we can wait to be happy once we meet "the one", once we get married, once we get the "right job", once we have kids, so on and so forth. But why should we wait to be happy? Today is the best time to be happy with our lives, the best time to be thankful for the things we have. There couldn't have been a better email sent at a better time. I have so much to be thankful for in my life, and so much to be happy about. I let myself have a little pity party this afternoon when I got home from work, cried a little, whined a little, and contemplated drowning my melancholy state in a bottle of whine...I mean wine. But I didn't. I decided that this is my time to be happy and excited about where my life is leading. Take the advice of the cheery little forwarded email, pick today to be happy about your life and what it has to offer...its a great time to be happy!!

Road Trip!!

I have recently taken to reading the blog by Crazy Aunt Purl. I find her incredibly hilarious, and find her posts to speak to me and my thoughts and inner monologues. When I found out she had a book available, I checked it out from my library, and really enjoyed it. There are some of the same stories from her blog in the book, but it didn't feel like I was just reading the same stuff over and over, because the book is more sentimental and touching than the blog, which is sarcastic, hilarious, and totally reflects the things that go through my head...daily!

I was so excited to see she was going on a book tour. Since I live just outside of Chicago, I thought for sure she would have a stop on her tour in Chicago. Sadly, she didn't. But she is stopping in Peoria to speak at a Women's Expo....AND I AM GOING!!

I have met very few people with any kind of celebrity in my life. And most of those are local celebrities, and professional celebrities...you know, the kind that only the people with the same career and profession as you would ever know of. So I am super excited to travel the nearly 3 hours to Peoria to listen to Laurie speak, walk around the Expo, register for fabulous prizes (that I probably won't win), and maybe get her to sign a copy of her book for me. If I am lucky (and courageous enough, and don't look to dorky doing it) I will try to get a picture with her and post here on my blog!! She invited everyone to bring their knitting, so I think I will....it will be one of my biggest KIP events ever!!!

So, think of me Saturday, as I make the road trip to Peoria, IL to see Crazy Aunt Purl in person!! I will be back with updates and all the scoop!!

2 posts in one day???

Then it MUST be BIG BIG NEWS!! I got my Ravelry Invite today!!! Super excited...but it's going to be a lot of work to get everything under control and organized on there...but it will happen!!

So if you are on Ravelry, my ID is JenLoves2Knit (just like the blog!) Look me up, send me a message! I look forward to seeing you there!!

Where did it go?

So, I puruse the Virtual Stitch n Bitch Forum daily. Until the last few days...it is in maintenance mode!! Where did you go my friendly forum? I feel as though I have lost touch with a group of long time friends, with no one to turn to for lovely pattern advice, finished objects, and the general day to day discussion of knitting. To Miss Debbie Stoller (who, if she read my blog, I would just die of excitement, but there's a chance!) please bring back the forum soon!! I miss it and everyone who posts on the forum.

Maybe Ravelry did this to our lovely forum! On that note, I checked my status today...

You signed up on September 11, 2007
You are #32304 on the list.
359 people are ahead of you in line.
14643 people are behind you in line.
65% of the list has been invited so far

ANY DAY NOW!! But, I promise not to abandon my first knitting forum! Hope to see you all back at SnB very soon!!

I'm a Bad Blogger :(

Sorry that I left the last post such a depressing one on the tragedy that was that week. For an update, things have ben looking good on the homefront. I am getting things taken care of and plans are made. I am definitely taking on this challege with open arms! I have less than one and a half weeks left at work, then one week to pack, then its moving day! My parents are coming to pack me up and move me back to the wide open spaces of rural Iowa!! I have lived in the Chicago area for the past year and a half. I have the tendency to adapt pretty well. So moving from a large city/metropolitan area to a rural town of 5500, where my parents live in the country, on a dirt road no less, will be quite a culture shock! I definitely have to get my road rage under control, and learn to drive the posted speed limit again! On the upside, while I am in the process of getting things together to start my own business, I will have a TON of extra free time to knit!!! Look out Christmas, HERE I COME!!!

So here are some things that I have been working on...
My co-worker's wife had a baby! So I followed the lead of some Virtual SnB'ers and made Saartje's Booties


I love the little teddy bear buttons. They were found at Hanock Fabrics. They chose not to find out what they were having, and thankfully, I had some green Paton's Grace on hand. Knit on US 3's.

I am knitting the Tree Jacket from Zephyr Style for the Sexy Knitters Club KAL. It is really a fun knit, and this picture is now not accurate, as I am half way through the garter stitch portion of the body


I am knitting this out of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Firecracker Heather. I was a little unsure about the color...thinking it might be a little *too* red...but I LOVE it!! I love red, and I have been told that red is a good color on me, so we shall see. I am hoping to finish it before or very soon after I move. My parents have a ton of trees and I would love to photograph it with all the fall foliage! HAHA Like how I plan out my modeling pictures in advance?? I am such a dork!

After I got the *wonderful* news of my future unemployment, I started to fear a yarn shortage for all the projects I wanted to take on, so I made an emergency order to Knit Picks. Maybe not the greatest idea since I will be financially impaired for a period of time. But, I know that I have a TON of sock yarn, so at least I will be set for knitting socks! But here is my haul...



I got the brown (actually their "Mocha Twist") for the Back to School U Vest from Fitted Knits, the gray and black is for a scarf for my sister's boyfriend. This will be knitted in simple 3x3 rib, keep it simple, and manly! :) To the right, that's my Tree Jacket...well, not so much yet, but well on its way! Finally, I got some sock yarn, cause I need so much more of it *insert sarcasm here*. Gloss and Essential Tweed. Not sure what this yarn is going to be when it grows up...but I have some options in my pattern binder.
For those of you with the Options needle set. I am finding it frustrating that I don't always know what size the needles are because they are not engraved with the size or anything. I never used to understand the needle sizer until I got this set. I always thought, "Well, all my needles have the size either on the end, or engraved somewhere on the shaft, so I will always know what size they are." But not so with the Options, especially if you have the tendency not to put things away in their "right" spot. So, I got the needle sizer. I kinda like it! Definitely makes figuring out my sock knitting needles a little easier!


So, off the subject of knitting for a moment...I *LOVE* Starbucks!! Random, I know. But let's remember the first paragraph where I am moving to rural Iowa...no Starbucks there, but I do know they have some pretty good local coffee shops! So, I had to find a solution to my problem quickly. The coffee is one thing, I have a cappuccino machine, so I know that I can probably buy Starbucks coffee somewhere in a grocery store. But their pastries are so good, and this time of year, my favorite flavor is out in full force....Pumpkin Spice!! I love anything and everything pumpkin! So Starbucks makes these pumpkin scones with really great, thick icing, and its really too hard to resist for breakfast. I have been getting one every morning for the past few weeks, since they put them in the bakery case. Love them!! Well, back to my lack of Starbucks in Farmland, USA...I had to find a suitable replacement. (PS I do really love my hometown, and think it will be a great place to unwind, refocus, collect my thoughts, and push forward in my goals...I am looking forward to being back there!)
After some searching, I did!! This recipe is AWESOME!!! If you like pumpkin, I highly recommend them. She gives a recipe for pumpkin butter, but I didn't make that. Instead, I made a simple vanilla frosting glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

milk - enough to make the frosting the thickness you wish (I made mine thin enough to drizzle over the scones rather than frost them) Here they are


They were delicious!! I plan on making them all the time and eating them everyday! Well, maybe not everyday...I have cut down on my daily scone intake after realizing just how many calories are in one, and that's a little scary!!

OK...I think that I have been a little verbose, but that's what I get for not posting in almost 2 weeks! Sorry, and that won't happen often. Take care everyone!!

Week From Hell...

This has been my life this week. You know, I have heard people say that stress can really screw with the body. I have seen stress screw with people's bodies...I am in healthcare, so it's a daily thing for me to see. I have not experienced this level of stress in quite sometime...probably since this last winter/spring with my grandfather's death and the break up of my relationship. So, this week, as I am trucking along, thinking everything in life is pretty good, I get hit *SMACK!* right in the face! And my body seems to be rebelling against me! Stress can mess ya up (but I won't give you the grim details :P )

I work in a multiple physician, of which I am one, multiple clinic healthcare facility, . The head physician, who owns everything, calls me into the office last Wednesday, and tells me the one thing that I am not prepared to hear. I am being let go. WHAT?!?!

So apparently, the clinic that I am working in is in some pretty dire financial straights. The cannot afford to keep 2 physicians on staff, so I am the one to go. I was/am devastated! I have quit all of my jobs, never been terminated by the employer, so this is a whole new game to me. I am usually prepared to be without a job if that is the case, but today it is not. I must say that I have all new respect for anyone who loses their job without any notice or without any clue. It truly turns a person's life upside down.

Now, there is a fine, barely visible silver lining to this cloud. I have recently hired on a consulting firm to help me take steps to open my own business. Fortunately for this, I have a long term plan in place, and a direction that I am starting to go in. My family and friends, though also shocked with the news, have all been hugely supportive, and feel that this change is a blessing in disguise, because now working on my business plan and everything associated with this will become my job, and I will make much faster progress. I agree. I am positive now, a week and a half after the bomb dropped. I have a plan. Part of this plan includes something that I said I would never do again....NEVER SAY NEVER....

At the end of this month, at the age of 28, a professional in the healthcare field, I will be moving back in with my parents. Yikes. I LOVE my family...I MISS my family, but do I want to LIVE with them again??? The question really is HOW LONG do I want to live with them again? Not that long! Fortunately, I don't think it will be much more than 3 or 4 months. And that's great, since it is coming upon the holidays, I know that I will be able to spend as much time with them as I can for this time of year, which has been something that I have missed the last couple of years. I live in Chicago, they live in rural Iowa...8 hours away. This is the furthest I have ever lived from my family, and I originally moved out here with my ex to be halfway between our respective families (his is in PA). Since we are not together anymore, there is really no reason to stay...so I was planning on moving back to the great state (??) of Iowa in the next 6-8 months anyway.

Maybe the silver lining of that cloud is a bit more substantial than I thought! :) All in all, I feel pretty good about things...but like I said...losing a job unexpectedly really turns a person's life upside down...making quick plans to move, buying out 6 months left on your lease, NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY YARN FOR, LIKE, EVER!! I made a "final" Knit Picks purchase just to pump up my stash, and for some specific projects to get me through the next few months...and Lord knows I have plenty of sock yarn to choke a large sheep! I should be set for a while...and packing up the yarn in a storage tote will help me to organize and hopefully find some yarn I had forgotten I had. Its all good!

So finally...I apologize for not posting for a while...I have been really thinking about what to say about this here/if to say anything at all...but if you can't share with your blog friends, then what has this world come to?? :) In conclusion...here are some pretty yarn pictures...

My beautiful Noro (will be the Irish Hiking Scarf when it grows up), and soft and silky SWTC Bamboo (which I think might be the Knotted Openwork Scarf):

Hot off the Needles!

MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!!



I am so happy to finally be done with these socks. These socks were just about the bane of my existence. I started the first sock on dpn's, and had such a problem with laddering, that I put them aside, and thought I probably just didnt have the knack for sock knitting. Until a lady at my knitting group taught me to knit socks on 2 circular needles. So much nicer, for me at least. I know there are a lot of people who knit with dpn's with good luck, and yet others that utilize the Magic Loop method. As long as we keep making beautiful socks, the I say go with what works!! I will definitely be sticking with the 2 circular needles!

These socks were worked on US 2 needles, 64 stitches with Austermann Step superwash wool. I threw away the ball band, so I am not sure of the color way, sorry. I used the Basic Sock Pattern from "Knitting Rules" using seed stitch instead of stockinette. I am really excited to wear these socks, but not today or tomorrow, as it is still supposed to be in the 80s!! Where is fall?? You can also see these on the Sock a Month KAL.

I have decided to cast on my next sock with the Knit Picks Memories in Hawaii in the pattern of Monkey from knitty.com, but first, I need to get the second short row toe started for Dad's Socks. I will be knitting these socks 2 at a time on 2 circular needles, and with them being knit out of worsted weight on size 5 needles, they should be a fairly quick knit.

OK, I am off to take a nap, I think. It has been a pretty trying week for me in my personal life, and I am physically and mentally exhausted. Have a great weekend!

TMI??

I don't think that this will be too much information for ya...but just a warning, I've got a lot to talk about tonight! First, a couple of updates...

1. I mentioned in a previous post about going on a date with a boy...Well, let's just say that there was not a long lasting connection made, unfortunately. He was great, really nice, and we had a nice time, but the chemistry just wasn't there, so we will probably not be going out again. Ah, such is life, and I'm not too torn up about it! Many more fish in the sea!

2. The Bold and Bulky Cardigan and I have made amends, and she is out of timeout. I frogged her back to the new yarn join, and found one of my remaining skeins with a more consistent color that matched the upper portion of the cardigan. Now she looks good. I was a little worried about the size being a little snug on my, and almost frogged the whole thing to re-knit in the next size up. After some careful consideration, and studying the pattern and the width of the button bands, I think I will be ok. I have to knit the sleeves and the contrast color and button band, and she will be done. I think that is a later in the week or weekend goal.

3. This week I have to focus on finishing my first pair of socks! I am just past the gusset decreases on the second sock, and think that it will go pretty quickly. I want to finish so that I can make the September goal for the Sock a Month KAL 4.

4. I am ashamed. The Tiffany Mittens have come to a complete standstill, and probably changed from WIP to UFO in my knitting que. I make a pledge, and a promise, here in KnitterLand online that once the BB Mini Cardigan is done, Tiffany will be back in my life.

OK, so I think that is all for the "old business". On to "new business"...and lots of pics!!

I am making socks for Christmas for my mom and dad. Because I am part of the SAM KAL(see link above) I think this will help to motivate me to finish them on time! I started my Dad's socks this weekend. I am using Knit Picks Swish to knit some old fashioned looking wool hunting socks, you know the kind that are grey, with the red cuff, heel and toe. I am a little worried about running out of yarn (he's a men's size 12 for heaven's sake!) so I have decided to try to do a toe up sock to maximize the amount of yarn I have. This is my 2nd pair of socks, and first toe up. Here is my first short row toe!! Also notice the size difference between a women's size 9 (me) and the toe of a men's size 12!!

With my new found desire to knit socks, I found this tutorial online. I have wanted sock blockers to display my socks on, but have found that one set is pretty costly. Here is the solution! It's so great, and super easy. It took me just about 45 minutes to do these, with the most time being drawing my template.

(L-R)

1. I used flexible cutting boards from Target (about $6 for a set of 4).

2. My template. First, I simply traced around my foot as it was laying on it's side on the paper. Then, following a picture of socks on blockers, tried to emulate the shape of bought blockers. It was kind of a challenge, especially trying to keep the length of the foot correct.

3. Sadly, two blockers would not come out of one cutting board, but at $6 for a set of 4, if you wanted matching colors, it's still super affordable!

4. My finished pair of women's size 9 sock blockers!!

I think this tutorial is great, especially if you give socks as gifts. I think that giving socks on a blocker is much more attractive than not, in my humble opinion!! Thanks so much MaryAnn at Little Sesame Knits!

Here is my almost finished first pair of socks modeling the new blockers!! They look GREAT!

Now that my first socks are almost done, and I am on a sock knitting tear, I am looking forward to my next socks. October is dedicated to knitting Dad's socks for the KAL, and November is for Mom's socks (also size 9, so much easier for me to knit true to size!!), but I want to knit more socks for me too! (Selfish much?!) So here's my quandry...

I am a little torn as to what to knit next. Mind you, all of these will be knit sometime in the (hopefully near) future, but my instant gratification side is deterring my decision making skills!

Option 1: Sidewinders from NonaKnits in Knit Picks Dancing, they look like a lot of fun, and definitely something different!

Option 2: The ever popular Monkey socks in either Hawaii or SMores from Knit Picks Memories

Option 3: The Basic Sock Pattern from the Harlot's Knitting Rules in either Regia's Kaffe Fasset designer series, or Cascade Fixation Pink Lemonade.

I would love to cast on for each and evey pair listed, but unfortunately, cannot. Can you help me?? Thanks!

Whew, well, this was a lengthy post, lots of pics, and definitely borderline TMI. I have worked up an appetite, so I am off to make some homemade chicken salad, eat some dinner, and knit away on my sock! Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your comments!

Ravelry Update:

You signed up on September 11, 2007
You are #32304 on the list.
14550 people are ahead of you in line.
3905 people are behind you in line.
48% of the list has been invited so far

Waiting (Im)Patiently

So, I have heard tons and tons on the web about Ravelry and how great it was, so I decided to check it out. Holy crap!!! I want a piece of that, and I want it now! Too bad, though...there is a huge waiting list, which all of Internet land knows, but me. So I go to sign up, am then told, "you are on the waiting list." So I am waiting, for about a week, thinking that like some other KAL's and blogrings, this will happen fairly quickly, and I will be with the "in" crowd over at Ravelry in no time. No such luck...I just checked my status...

You signed up on September 11, 2007
You are #32304 on the list.
16601 people are ahead of you in line.
2350 people are behind you in line.

This does not bode well...for you already veterans of Ravelry...about how long did you have to wait to get your invite? Are the people ahead of me in line already members, or are they waiting too? Seeing as how the number of people ahead of me in line is about 8 times the number of people behind me in line, I am way at the end, and will probably be invited the day before (or after, knowing my luck) the whole thing goes live for public consumption! So I will continue to wait patiently...or impatiently...depending on the day and hope that I get the happy email telling me I have been invited...In the meantime...read this blog entry...she does a great job of telling us all what we're missing out on! (Thursday Sept 20 entry).

Not sure what to do...

So I am working on the Bold and Bulky Mini Cardigan from Fitted Knits. I am lengthening the bodice to make it less of a bolero, and more of a full length to slightly cropped cardigan. I am working to the end of the skein/ball of yarn, and then will begin on the sleeves. I haven't bought the yarn for the CC yet, so I will do all of that at the very end, when I am generally happy with the length of everything.

I am really happy with the yarn I chose, and how it is knitting up. Except for what I noticed tonight. All of the yarn has a slightly varigated look as it is hand dyed. I am ok with that until I got to the middle of this last skein. I am noticing a huge area of pooling in the last few inches. It is not super noticable on the pictures I am noticing, but in "real life" it is pretty significant.

The areas I am talking about are both sides of the cardigan, right in the middle (kind of above the needles) on the front...You can also see how varigated the ball of yarn is, too....

And again, at the bottom, middle, right above my fingers....
These are my remaining hanks of yarn...also pretty varigated...
I don't think that I mind, but on the other hand, I really like the blending of the top portion of the cardigan much better than the bottom portion. I am just afraid that the other skeins will do the same in the sleeves. I might frog to just a few rows after I added this skein, add another, and knit with 2 skeins changing every few rows to try and blend it out a little more...

Hrumpf....and I was just about ready to move onto the sleeves....well, I want to love this cardigan, so it will be worth it!

Edit Wednesday Sept 19, 12:25 pm...I didn't want to make a whole brand new post for this, so I thought I would just give an update...after sleeping on it, and looking at the pictures several more times...I think that the best decision for me at this time is to....GULP....FROG back to just after the new skein join, and alternate rows...it is sad to frog, and usually a little nerve wracking, but I know that I will be much happier with it this way. I am going to place a life line of sorts so I do not lose/drop any stitches. I do believe that this is going to have to wait until the weekend...so time out my lovely cardigan...I am not angry, just a little disappointed. We will meet again, and all will be resolved very soon.

T.G.I.F.....but is it over yet?

Oh, I do believe that I am doing the taboo thing today...blogging at work! I am insanely slow at my job today, and the fact that it is almost 5:30 on a Friday afternoon/evening, and I go to Knit Night right after work on Fridays, things are dragging along....S....L....O....W....L....Y.......

On the upside, I can usually puruse the knitting blogs, and site with no one looking over my shoulder. I am also looking quite forward to the weekend. I work in the medical field and my clinic is open until 7 pm every night, and in the mornings on Saturday. I have taken this Saturday morning off, first, in honor of my birthday, and second due to a function that will eventually put me on track for how I want to continue in my career. Sorry for the cryptic statement, it is just not the right time for me to go into detail on this...as there are some people out there who aren't aware of what's going on. Thirdly, I am meeting a boy tomorrow, I think.

A little history lesson on Jen: I met a boy at grad school...Jen and boy "fell in love"....boy moved half way across the country to be with Jen....boy and Jen moved to Chicago together to build new life....Jen "fell out of love" with boy for many different reasons....Jen moved out to new apartment, and started living single again....Jen gets lonely, but not for boy.....Jen has been online dating (a little scary)....new boy asked if Jen would like to get together this weekend....Jen said yes....and hasn't heard from boy yet...but that's ok. So, history in a nut shell....I have been having not such good luck with the online thing...but I have been emailing with people, and that is definitely low stress...until they want to meet! Then, the stress level goes up a notch....I have the firm belief that it has to do with the apparel we wear when emailing (usually pajamas) vs. what we wear to go out (NOT pajamas!)...the emailing clothes lend to a more comfortable feeling in general, so I think that it expresses itself in the email. Then comes all the stress of getting dressed in "meeting" clothes, you have to look your best, hair, makeup, the whole kit 'n' caboodle! I definitely try to make things less stressful for myself anyway. I go into the meetings, I don't like to call them dates, with the feeling that if things progress from there, great, and if not, well, then I got to spend my night in the company of someone new, and might possibly make at least a friend out of it. So we will see...

Monday is my birthday....so I will be taking it easy this weekend in anticipation of my birthday...not that there is anything too exciting going on. I live about 8 hours from my family, so I celebrated early when my sister was here to visit. I requested a DQ ice cream cake for the office lunch on Monday, so that will be fun...not to mention yummy!

I started this post at about 5:25pm, and am finishing at about 6:10 pm...had to stop in between to take care of patients...so have a great weekend all...T-minus 20-30 minutes until quittin' time...then off to Knit Nite!

We're Making Progress

So I have pretty much recovered from my nasty chest cold. I still have a bit of a cough, but it's nothing compared to where I was one week ago! Much news on the knitting front therefore! I have made some progress on the Tiffany Mittens.

I was getting a little concerned when I tried them on last night, and they were pretty tight! I know that fair isle knitting can be a little less stretchy than regular one color knitting. This is my first fair isle knitting project, so it is definitely a learning process. I have gotten some really great advice about spreading the stitches out when bringing the floating yarn along the back, and how the mittens will fit differently once the afterthought thumb is placed and knitted. I have been trying it on my left hand, but will try it on my right, and which ever one is looser will be the mitten that I knit!

I have also started a new project, which I probably shouldn't have since I still have much Christmas knitting to accomplish. This pattern though is knit with big yarn on big needles, and has been going pretty quickly. I am doing the Bold and Bulky Mini Cardigan from Fitted Knits, by Stephanie Japel. When I first browsed this book at the bookstore, I was a little unimpressed, until I looked at the KAL page and saw all the great interpretations of the patterns. I immediately fell in love with the book! I have borrowed it from the library, looked at it about 52 times, and have picked half a dozen patterns that I want to knit! What a pleasant surprise this was! I will be purchasing this book very, very soon! Here is my progress:

I had a difficult time with the yarn, though. The pattern calls for Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick. Now, I am not a huge fan of this yarn, and wanted something that would be lovely to knit with and would be something that I would cherish for years to come. I am making some modifications to the original pattern, like lengthening the body so it is less like a bolero, and because I have a fairly long torso. I am also planning on making the sleeves a little longer, and depending on how much yarn I have, full length. I went to my LYS and spent about an hour and a half with the proprieter, Deb, who helped me pick out a wonderful, beautiful, makes me want to crawl inside and sleep yarn. It is Araucania Yarns, Limari Semi Solids. It is a merino, alpaca, silk blend and is like butter! I walked around the store for about 30 minutes petting the yarn without even realizing it! It is wonderful. It is a little pricey, and when I realized just how much I was spending, I almost went for the Wool-Ease! However, knowing the quality of this yarn, I will definitely cherish this piece of knitting for years! Definitely worth it!! I am super excited for the fall air to come and stay so that I can wear this piece at least weekly! Sorry to my co-workers in advance to see one outfit all fall and winter!! HAHA!

I have also been doing some lurking on other really great knitting blogs. I have joined a couple of online KALs, and love looking at other people's work just about as much as I love knitting my own!

Qutecowgirl, Jill, Crafty Pancakes, The Half-Assed Knit Blog, of course the Harlot, and there are so many more that I can't remember, or find...I really need to start bookmarking them immediately when I come across them!! I will start a running list of blogs I come across so that you too can enjoy the world of the fellow knitter! I have also put my name on the list for Ravelry!! Geez...this could become a real problem. I think I waste time at work now browsing and lurking knitting blogs and sites, but a whole huge community with links and links and links dealing with knitting could be trouble!! Oh well...my co-worker is obsessed with running, so to each their own! On a side note about the Yarn Harlot...she posted yesterday and today about a garter stitch jacket that she loves, and going to the link, I think I agree...they are all enablers, the whole lot of them!!

Well, my link happy post is done for now, I think! Also, if you look to the side...I have finally learned to do the whole button thing!! Go me!! Knitter I am....Computer genius I am not!

I feel Yucky...

Oh what a week it has been. Labor Day weekend was a nice and much welcomed day off to catch up on many things, including knitting. I finished a major project, to which I am thrilled. I also cast on for the Tiffany Mittens and made some pretty good progress on Monday.

I am really happy with this progress, and love the fact that I am actually doing a Fair Isle project, which I have been super scared of since I started knitting. But the problem herein lies...I have not made any more progress through this entire week!

I started to feel a little scratchy in my throat Sunday night, and it was a little more pronounced on Monday. I was thinking that I was having a bit of an allergy attack, and thought that a little rest, and avoidance of the outdoors would help. Not so much! Tuesday things just progressively got worse, and by Tuesday night, I was resigned to the fact that it wasn't my allergies, but a nasty chest cold rearing its ugly head. Wednesday I went home from work sick, and couldn't even bring myself to knit a simple no patterned sock. I have not picked up my knitting since Monday, and I miss it!! I am starting to feel better, but still have a lingering cough that has made my abdomen feel like I just went through sit up boot camp! I am hoping to make some progress on things this weekend as I hole up...yet again...and get myself well again!

I am also feeling the desparate need to get going on my Christmas knitting. I have one project just over halfway done, and the finishing will be the most complicated with some lining and embroidery work. I also need to knit 2 pairs of socks, to which I have joined the Sock A Month KAL 4 in the hopes that it will motivate me to knit, knit, knit!! Then my sister's boyfriend has thrown a whole cog in the wheel by possibly being at the family Christmas this year. So I think that I am going to be knitting him a scarf. Probably a simple chunky ribbed scarf with a black tweed yarn of some sort. My LYS has a nice Noro tweed, but maybe something out of a Knit Picks bulky yarn. I haven't really decided yet.

So, I have decided, no more sick days allowed! Or sick weeks for that matter! At least until Christmas is over and I can focus on nice casual knitting projects!

Marlo

Marlo from Black Purl Knits is finally finished! This sweater took me so much longer than I had anticipated, but I am happy with the final results. I am hoping for a few days of Indian Summer to allow me to wear this a few times before long sleeve sweater season is upon us. I am realizing in my early knitting hobby, that one needs to knit for the opposite season! At least for me, who it takes a little longer to make a project! I started on a sweater last winter, before Christmas, and didn't finish it until May! By that time, sweater weather was over, so I had to put it away right away. I am pretty excited to wear it this winter, though. Here is a picture of the finished Marlo, she's blocking right now...

She fits pretty well, but if I were to make it again, I would do the collar in 2x2 ribbing like the bottom rather than in stockinette. I am afraid that even after blocking, the collar will roll. The top of the collar is done in three rows of garter stitch, but that didn't help when I tried it on after finishing last night. Oh well, I still really like it!

I have finally started the Tiffany Mittens but am having issues getting the charts printed out. I changed all the charts to match my color selection. I have an old printer that my mom and dad gave to me a while back. They also gave me some of their old speakers for the computer, but seeing as I have a laptop, I don't really have need for them. So my sister took the speakers back to my mom and dad's when she was out to visit. Well, I didn't realize until yesterday when I was getting ready to set up the printer that the plug in cord and USB cord for the printer was in the same box as the speakers, which are now 9 hours away at my parents house! So I need to go to Office Depot or somewhere with the charts on a disk to get them printed out! I have the first 11 rows of the mittens knit up and am ready to get started...so off I go to get those charts printed out so I can continue trying to catch up to my fellow knitters who are so much further than I am! Hi Jill and Qutecowgirl!!

I will post my progress pics very soon!!

Knit, knit, and knit some more!

Happy Friday everyone! Not too mention a nice long holiday weekend up and coming! I plan on doing a lot of knitting, Christmas and otherwise. I got my Knit Picks order yesterday, which is always very exciting. I thought I had all my colors worked out in my head for the Tiffany Mittens but no such luck! I was planning on making the mittens in MC Cinnamon with the main pattern in the Nutmeg (tan). The green and yellow were going to be the flower section along the wrist. Now that I have the colors in front of me, and lots of looking and pondering, I am thinking I want it all different! I am now planning on making the MC in the green with the main pattern yellow, the wrist band flower area in the cinnamon and nutmeg. I think this might give them more of a retro look. Also, seeing as I own both a black and an off white winter coat, I think this color combination will be more versatile. I am a little freaky about what goes with black and what goes with brown, but pouring all my energy into making these, I will surely wear them as much as possible this winter. I am so excited to get started on these mittens.

Before I can do that, though, I have some finishing up to do. I have almost all of my Marlo sweater done from Black Purl KnitsAll I have left to do is the neck line. It is a mock turtle, knit all rounds, so that is really easy knitting...I could totally get it done during a movie or TV show. I still have to finish knitting an item for Xmas, but I can put that aside for a break from the mittens as well. I am almost finished with the knitting, but need to do some "finishing" work to it after that. Its nice to have diversity! I have also finished the first sock in my first pair of socks. I mentioned the "Peachy Keen" sock in a previous post, and finally finished it!

I have cast on for the second sock and knit the first few rounds tonight, so I am hoping to avoid the whole second sock syndrome. I realized as I wore one lonely sock around for a while tonight, that I LOVE hand knit socks! Good thing too, seeing as half my stash is sock yarn!!! It is just so irresistible!! "Houston, we could have a problem!"

I would also like to spend some time with the sewing machine this weekend as well, but let's not get too excited here! I do have a life outside of knitting (WHAT?!?!), and have a wedding to attend tomorrow, and some housework to catch up on from the week. I would much rather be knitting...hence the having to catch up I think! This would be the one, and only one, reason I dislike the single life again! When I was living with my ex, at least I could delegate the housework to him! Ah, well, single life is better, for now! :)

Have a happy Labor Day weekend! I will post my progress on the mittens as soon as I have some!

P.S. Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes!

How do I work this thing?

As I read other people's blogs, I am realizing that they are much more technologically talented than I. I finally figured out how to link in text. For example, if I wanted to tell you to go here for free knitting patterns, I can! But I still don't get how to put a button in my side bar, or in the middle of my post like some of my fellow bloggers do. Hmmmm....Its curious...and frustrating all at the same time! So thing #1 that I don't know how to work.


Thing #2 is a very exciting challenge to me. My birthday is September 17th, but I have gotten one of my bday presents already. My sister and her boyfriend came out to visit me a couple of weeks ago, and brought my present from my parents. This is not neccessarily something that I have begged and pleaded for, but definitely something that I have looked into getting, and now that I have it, I am so pumped to learn how to use it!! So what is it you ask? Its a brand new.....

SEWING MACHINE!!!I am super excited to learn how to use this! I have scanned through my owner's manual, and have not a clue! Today, however, upon advice from several of my knitting circle girls, and my mother, the veteran sewer, I bought some plain white cotton muslin to practice all the stitches on. I also got some other really cool fabric to make a lining for a handbag that may or may not be for Christmas, but as it might just be a present for some one, I will not post a picture of it until the recipient has received it. It's way too obvious even for a teaser photo...sorry!

I am super excited for this weekend, not because I have huge Labor Day plans, but because I will have a full extra day for the weekend to finish some much neglected WIPs and to start on a new, beautiful project. I am going to be joining a KAL with some fellow knitters from the Stitch n Bitch Forum

We are going to be starting this project as the KAL, and I am really excited and anticipating getting started. This will be my first foray into Fair Isle knitting, and I am sure that it will be fine, but I have some fears that the whole thing will just be messy! I am using Knit Picks Merino Style, and am anxiously awaiting its arrival...hoping that it will get here before Monday so I can spend the whole day working on them!!

Happy Labor Day everyone...time to get to those WIPs so I can move on to my pretty mittens!!

Beading

While I was online today, I read a fellow knitter's blog today, and she had linked to this really cool bracelet/row counter. It is really cool, and super practical. The link is


http://westenddesignknits.blogspot.com/2006/08/row-counter-tutorial.html
(thanks qutecowgirl!)


I have dabbled a little in bead work, and had a stash of left overs from making bracelets for my mom and sister one year for xmas. I pulled out the beading materials and here is what I came up with... I might have made it a little small, but it will definitely work in some capacity. I was looking at it and thought, the toggle ring at the end would probably fit around most of my needles (not the 11s or 13s of course, but anything under). So I was thinking that maybe I would use it as a row counter at the end of my needles, and another thought dawned on me! I have seen so many pretty stitch markers that have jewels and beads on them and thought that with some of the materials I have laying around, I could make a few for myself. So here they are!!
I had a bunch of toggle clasps left over that I used for the actual stitch marker. Each marker took me probably only 10 minutes to make, and am excited to start using them. This could be a bit of a problem, I could totally see myself making a bunch of stitch markers for every project that I have, to match the yarn, and all!

Deadlines....

So, I am leaving for my Homecoming weekend, the one I was hoping to wear "Marlo" to. I thought that if I gave myself a deadline, I would knit faster, and get it completed. I kind of feel like my eyes were too big for my timeline. Here is my progress in the last week...(the pic is a little funny looking because I took it on my cell phone, my digital camera battery decided to die!)I have finished up to the start of the third cable repeat. I had to rip out 8 rows when somehow, I managed to either drop a stitch or YO when I was knitting plain stockinette. I tried everything to figure out how to fix it, thinking that if it didn't look super great, that's OK since this is the back. I was having no luck and didn't want to unknit two rows of cable, so, after walking away from it for a few minutes to gather my courage, I ripped. And then painstakingly picked up my live stitches, trying so hard not to drop any more stitches. It was successful (thank goodness!!) and I managed to knit back to where the problem occurred. I couldn't look at this project anymore for the rest of the night, so I didn't get much accomplished. My deadline was to finish and block tonight so that I could pack the sweater, but no such luck. So, though I will not be wearing it...I will be at least bringing it with me to work on. Maybe next week I will finish!

Since I have come to grips with the fact that my sweater will not be finished, I decided to do another little project tonight while I was doing laundry. I will be meeting up with a friend I haven't seen in a couple of years, and she is pregnant! So, I thought it would be a nice gesture to bring her a handknit gift.

These are the "One Hour Baby Booties" from the Stitch n Bitch Nation book. The designer and pattern are true to its name, and only took me about 1.5 hours to start and complete...blocking and all. I actually made one this morning per the instructions, and it turned out really small. Since I don't have kids, I don't really have the concept of really how big or small a baby's feet are, so I decided to make them bigger. My friend is due in October, so I figured that the baby could get a lot of winter use out of these if they were a little bigger. I think they are super cute. I did modify the pattern per some advice on the SnB forum, and knit a couple extra rows instead of making a strap and making them in to Mary Jane type booties.

A great, exciting piece of news in my knitting world as well...I have learned to knit 2 socks at the same time on 2 circular needles! It is super easy, and I really can't see myself knitting socks any other way in the future. I have one sock stalled on the dpn's right now, and plan on taking it with me to hopefully finish while I am sitting in lectures this weekend. I have located the LYS and will definitely be paying them a visit while I am in town. I didn't knit while I was in grad school, which is probably a really good thing, so I didn't have any clue about LYS's and the like. Come to find out, I lived just down the road from them the whole time!!! Yet another good thing about not knitting in grad school...my semester stipend would have been blown in the first week!!

Well, I better get packing and also getting myself ready for work tomorrow. I am leaving straight from work, so that means that I have to have everything ready by 8am tomorrow morning!! Blech!! Hopefully I will have some FO's to show off when I get home!

Speed Knitting

So I came across the Sexy Knitters Club (see link at the side) and found that they are a group that does KALs! I find that very exciting and a lot of fun that there are so many people out there working on the same project at the same time. I really enjoyed looking at past projects and pics of FOs. My question is this...How do they/you knit projects so quickly?!?! I see pitures of projects that were cast on and finished in about a week. My most recent project attempt is "Marlo" from Black Purl knits. I cast on about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks ago and am only 3.5 " into the first 7" of ribbing with the most complicated part, the cables at the edges of the sleeves to go. The pattern in not written to be done on circular needles, but I am knitting the body to the arm holes as such, hoping to save time. Apparently not! I wrote about this in my last post, and am giving myself a deadline! Hopefully, I will meet the deadline and be able to wear it to the event I am planning on wearing it to.

I try to knit at least 2 hours per day, but as we all know, this doesn't always happen. I am just in a frustrated mood, because, again, as I stated in my last post, I have a hard time finishing projects. A member of my knitting circle told me that I was a process knitter, not a project knitter, but I want to be a project knitter and have something to show for my time and energy! Humpf!! Well, off I go...hoping to gain at least an inch or two on my sweater.

Knitting ADD

I have spoken to other people through forums on knitting and am finding that summer is definitely a time for "Knitting ADD." I am finding that this occurs for me not only in the summer, but throughout all seasons. I have completely disregarded patterns only to cast on and start something new, and becoming completely commited to them, until.....something new comes along. I have about 5 knitting WIPs and 1 crochet WIP. I give my crochet abandonment the excuse that because it is an afghan, and it is summer, it is ok to ignore. But what about my socks? What about the sleeveless sweater, and now my new project, that I will not give details about because it is for a family member. Plus a dishcloth, a shawl, and a Prayer Shawl for my Prayer Shawl Ministry group.

So, I have decided to give myself deadlines. I have 2 weeks to finish the sleeveless sweater, because I want to wear it to some grad school homecoming festivities. I am giving the new project 3 weeks to completion...as the family member and I will be seeing each other. My sock...I feel that has no hope...but that's ok. I still have the match to make, so my deadline for the socks will be set once the first two are met.

Speaking of socks...I have learned to knit them on dnps. I would like to learn 2 circs or Magic loop technique. Perhaps I will knit the mate to my sock in progress on 2 circs. These socks are for me, so if the gauge is different, of I make mistakes, that is ok. I have 3 pairs of socks to make for gifts, and think that making them on 2 circs, 2 socks together might make it go faster. Hmmm...yet another challenge to my deadline. I will be posting pics of projcets and the progress on my deadlines.

Oh here we go...focus now!!!

Sari Silk Handbag - My First Design/Pattern!

Here is my my Sari Silk Handbag. I found this silk at my LYS and wanted to buy all 6 skeins. I couldn't decide which I liked best, so I bought 3 and decided that the best way to showcase this beautiful yarn was to make a handbag for everyone to see!! I borrowed some general concepts of this pattern from other handbag patterns I have seen. You can modify the pattern to make the bag smaller or larger, but please do not take credit for it. Thanks!




Sari Silk Handbag

Materials: I am not sure of the yardage I used, but you could probably make this from one 50g skein of yarn.
16" circular needles, US 8
US 13 needles
Fabric for lining
"Stitch Witchery" Fabric bonder
Set of purse handles (I bought both black wooden and bamboo--I preferred the black wooden)

Gauge: Doesn't matter as the silk changes gauge throughout the skein, and you can modify the needle size to make the fabric looser or tighter

Cast on 35 stitches with size 8 needle.
K all rows for approx. 30 rows, or until piece is as large as you want the bottom to be

Do not bind off last row. Turn corner and begin to pu stitches. PU 1 stitch every other row, and 1 stitch every stitch on the cast on edge. PM at each corner to keep track of front, back, and sides of purse.

Join. K all rounds until the purse reaches desired length.

Begin next round by BO first 5 st on one of the long sides, knit middle 25 stitches onto size 13 needles, place on a holder. Continue to BO last 5 st of long side. BO all short side st and first 5 st of second long side. K middle 25 st onto size 13 needles. BO last 5 st. Weave in end. Place second set of middle st onto holder.

You can continue by knitting the handle wraps, or by sewing the lining. I chose to sew in the lining before finishing the handle wraps and sewing the handles in.

Lining:

Lay knit handbag flat onto a piece of paper, trace around the outline of the purse. Cut out tracing. Place cut out on fabric and trace around it, this will be your guide lines for sewing the seams. When you cut out the fabric, leave 1/2" for seaming and hemming purposes. You can trim it down later.

I used a satiny fabric for my lining, and it frays pretty easily. So I used Stitch Witchery fabric bonding tape prior to sewing my seams to give the fabric some sturdiness. I also used the bonding tape only for my hem, as I was going to be stitching it by hand into my hand bag. I used some contrasting fabric for my pocket, and as I do not have a sewing machine, simply cheated and used the stitch witchery to bond the pocket to the lining. It's pretty sturdy!

Sew your lining into your hand bag.

Handles:
Knit on US 13 needles. Knit off the stitch holder, and continue in garter st for approx 10 rows, or until the flap is long enough to sew around the handle. BO. Fold the flap down over the flat part of the handle, and sew in place. Repeat on other side.

Finishing:

As I used 3 different skeins, and alternated every few rows, I just pulled my ends through to the inside of the purse, and sewed my lining in without weaving the ends. If you can't do that, weave in the ends and enjoy your beautiful new hand bag.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this pattern. I didn't write things down as I went, and this is the first pattern that I have actually translated from my head to paper (or blog). I appreciate any constructive criticism.

Ball up and Dye!!

After reading several posts and forums on hand dying your own yarn, I decided to give it a shot. I attempted to dye "self striping" yarn with coffee, a tip I read online as well. Lets just say, the results were not pretty. I was skeptical to try it again, and have thought about using several different methods. Kool-Aid, food coloring, and Rit fabric dye. I have used Rit fabric dye to dye a shirt that I accidentally ruined with bleach. It works wonderfully, and is relatively easy. I have "dyed" some fabric with Kool-Aid in the past as well, but obviously not on purpose! So here are my supplies for my weekend adventure in yarn dying:


I bougt some Paton's 100% wool to try my hand at Kool-Aid and food coloring, but did not get to it this weekend. Maybe next weekend. In a small apartment, limited space limits all the projects I want to do at one time! I decided to dye some Paton's Grace using the Rit dye. My goal was to make truly self striping yarn with it. After wrapping 3 skeins of yarn around my dining room chairs, I went to it.

Here is the result after dying and rinsing. I put 1/3 of the length of the skeins in the dye bath for about 20 minutes. The package directions were definitely a guideline. It recommended using 2 pkg of dye in 3 gallons of water to ensure color saturation. I used 2 pkg of dye in 2 gallons of water. It also recommended leaving the fabric/yarn in the dye bath for 30 minutes. After 20, I was happy with the darkness and saturation of the color. After the initial 20 minutes, I took the second 1/3 and dipped it in the dye bath about 4 times to gain a lighter purple color. The last 1/3 I left white for contrast. Here is the finished product. I hanked one and balled 2 to see the coloring.

I plan on making a pair of nice cotton socks. I am a little concerned about the possibility of color bleeding when the fabric gets washed. I will post the finished project once these socks are finished.

Speaking of socks....I am hooked! I have knit one and only one sock in my entire knitting experience. It is understanding how socks can become an addiction. The first time I knit the heel flap, I was excited. The first heel turn, I stood up and did a little feel good dance. The gusset, not my favorite, but one thing I will put up with to get to the toe decreases and grafting. Grafting! With all the cautionary instructions on how difficult grafting can be, I was expecting this to be my Everest of sock making. Well, needless to say, it went smoothly and beautifully. Not so scary after all! Here is the finished sock, on a homemade hanger sock blocker no less...Paton's 100% wool on size 6 needles. Its mate is still balled up in the stash...someday to be reunited!!

This is my latest project (one of many!!). A sock, knitted in Austermann sock yarn, I believe. I think I threw away the label in my cleaning frenzy today. I decided to try a pattern, but nothing too complicated, so I am doing the leg and instep in seed stitch after about 1 1/2 inches of 2x2 ribbing. I am excited to see the finished project and will try my hardest to not to fall victim the "second sock syndrome." I don't consider the lack of a mate on my first sock to be an attack of SSS, but rather a "practice" sock.

Now, off to work on my sock, which I will dub "Peachy Keen" !!

A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place

Finally, I feel like I am a little more organized with my knitting supplies. I at least have a home for all my hooks and needles. Here is a picture of my cases, all hand made (except for the little red thing to the right, holding my DPNs, that was a $1 purchase at JoAnn's I saw while waiting in line).

The crochet hook holder (left) was made using a Berocco pattern, with a felted based (Paton's 100% wool) and a lacy holder (Lion wool - from stash). It was a quick make, and felted nicely. I tried to give this to my grandma, who has crocheted for many, many years. Unfortunately, she is unable to crochet much more, as her hands have been bothering her with arthritis, so she told me to keep it. She then handed over all but 3 of her hooks for my sister and I to split. She seems so pleased that we have both picked up knitting, and that I taught myself to crochet. Between my grandma and I, I think my sister will pick it up as well. I was in South Dakota last weekend for my grandpa's 80th birthday, and the three of us sat side by side and went over the basics, and really enjoyed ourselves. After all the afghans and doilies my family has gotten from my grandma, I know the benefit and joy of hand made blankets!

The knitting needle case is the pattern from the Stitch n Bitch Handbook. I love the funky fabrics that I got on super clearence at JoAnn's. It makes the case really fun, and definitely one of a kind! This was my very first sewing project, believe it or not! I did not take "home ec" in high school, and though my mom sewed all of her clothes growing up and then sewed pretty little dresses for my sister and me when we were young, she never really passed the craft down to us. I decided to make this case about 3 months ago, and was going to hand sew all of it, but the first 2 pockets done by hand made me realize how cumbersome this would be. Knowing that I would be traveling home to my parents for the Memorial Day weekend, I took the opportunity to get this done...via machine!

My mom was so open to helping me out with the machine, and we used an old bed sheet as "practice" before actually stitching on the real thing. She patiently showed me how to follow a straight line...difficult if you are using a sewing machine for the first time, I realized. After doing a couple of practice runs, I was ready...and somewhat flawlessly sewed all the pockets. We then did the "how to sew a corner" lesson. Though my mom could very easily gauge the 1/2" seam, I on the other hand, had to have some sort of drawn lines to get me to the corners, and turn, and continue on. I seamed the base and flap, and wasn't too crooked with my lines. Mom was impressed, and proud! The next task was doing the top stitching...which proved a little more challenging. I had gotten a little too confident in my new sewing skills, and though most of the top stitching went well...going across the top of the case was not good. I was very crooked and wavy with my line, and the 6" opening that was left to turn the bag right side out ended up being not too even. So out came the seam ripper. I was discouraged, but Mom continued to encourage me, stating that for this being my first sewing project, having to only rip this one section was pretty darn good. Going back the second attempt was much better...thanks to Mom's encouragement, and probably the food in my tummy from dinner, and maybe because of the break away from the machine while eating dinner. Finally...one more line of stitches to sew the flap to the base and the case was done! I sewed on the ribbons, and Mom and I admired my finished project! Success!!

Honestly, I don't know what was more fun...actually sewing something for the first time on a sewing machine, or having my mom be there to help me every step of the way. Its pretty much a tie! Thanks Mom, I love you!! And I think I need to get a sewing machine... :)

Shhhhhh....it's "Top Secret"!!!

I finally finished my first large, wearable project!!! Aside from a couple of scarves, and a couple of hats, I have not made anything large and wearable, so here it is!! "Top Secret" from knitty.com

This sweater was so fun to make. It is done all on circular needles, so that means, no seaming! Which I was excited about. Underneath the arms was the only place that seaming needed to happen, and they were actually seamed using three needle bind-off, which I like a lot. I used Paton's Divine for the yarn, and the recommended needle size. The yarn, contrary to it's name, is not so divine to work with. It is an acrylic/wool/mohair blend, and the mohair is a little too fuzzy, and makes stitch definition difficult, especially when trying to count for the increases and decreases. But all in all, I really like it, and though we were at almost 90 degrees yesterday, maybe I will just have to crank the A/C really cold and wear it around for a while!

Hello...?? Is Anyone There??

As a fairly new blogger, I am not sure how often to write on my site, but 2 months (almost) between postings I know is not an acceptable time frame! Well, I hearby promise that I will write more often, but refuse to give myself a time line of sorts...so we will see.

Since my last posting, a lot has happened in my life that has prevented me from thinking of things to write. I am not sure how personal to go on my site...I want you to know me, but do I want you to really know me, you know? Well, anyway...at the very end of February, my grandfather, who has been battling for 8 years with myelodysplastic syndrome anemia (MDS), entered into hospice care, and two weeks later, succumbed to his long battle. Although we knew this time was approaching, it was very difficult. During that two weeks, I was 600 miles from my family in South Dakota and Iowa while I was living in Chicago. The one thing that did help me from going absolutely stir crazy was knitting and teaching myself to crochet. The pics in my previous post of the crocheted washcloths were the products of my nervous energy. I am happy that I have learned both crafts, and realize now what stress relievers they can be.

About two days before my grandpa went into hospice, I decided to make another life altering change, and split with my live-in boyfriend of three years. In one week, my world was turned upside down by these two events. I was completely shelled out. A lot of crying, praying and hoping for things to look up ensued. My ex was wonderful during the time we were waiting with Grandpa, and I couldn't ask for a better friend. We moved out the end of April, and thankfully continue to be friendly and supportive of one another.

My knitting took a back seat to all of the preparation surrounding the move, and finally, I had to take a hiatus...forced, I am quite sure! That was unacceptable, so I gave myself a reward system, pack for a while, knit for a while, pack a little more, knit a little more. For anyone who knows me, and knows me well, also knows that I am a little bit of a procrastinator. So needless to say, most of my packing got finished in the two days prior to moving day.

Now that I am finally settled, I am back in the groove of things. Finally, thankfully. I am about 2 inches away from finishing Top Secret from knitty.com...I will post a picture later this week. I have ventured into my first pair of socks courtesy of Miss Wooly Knits... (http://knittingbunny.blogspot.com/2007_04_20_archive.html) who has a great tube sock pattern that makes socks, especially the first, not so scary! Thanks! Here are a couple of pictures of my sock...in progress






I also got brand new furniture last week. I am pretty excited about this as well. I have never had "brand new" furniture before, always some crap handed down from a family member or a friend. I found a discount furniture center that sells clearanced furniture. So I got my furniture for about 50% of original cost, which I thought was a helluva deal! I am so excited about it that I want to show it off...I hope you don't mind!! I am eventually going to center my decorating around the color scheme in the pillows. It is kind of difficult to see, but the general idea is there!





This is my couch...

And this is the love seat!! (Sorry about the back lighting!)

These pictures and my sock pictures were taken on the cell phone as my digital camera is still packed away. I also do not have a computer at home yet...yes I am blogging at work, you do it too!!! So I don't really have a great way to upload real pictures, so cell phone pics will just have to do for now!

Happy Monday to you all, and have a great week! I will blog ya later!